It was devised by Dr Rupert McShane, a consultant old age psychiatrist with the Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust.

Wallingford’s Roger Stammers, 64, of Shillingford Road, whose wife Isobel began to wander off after the onset of Alzheimer’s in 2004, also helped set up the scheme.

Carers registered patients’ details, location, appearance and a photo and volunteers within a mile of their last location were texted details of missing OAPs.

She said: “The pilot was ground breaking with over 48 per cent of the volunteers never volunteering before and over 96 per cent of the carers saying that the pilot gave them reassurance.

“All volunteers have been sent an email explaining the situation to them. And the people with dementia and their carers will have an email, followed up by a letter, signposting them to organisations including the Alzheimer’s Society and Age UK.”

The scheme would also work with the Association of Chief Police Officers to develop volunteering in relation to missing people at a national level, she said.